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Southern Charm

Norman Vincent Peale

Change your THOUGHTS and you change your WORLD.

Fine Art America, again

Prints, Posters, and Notecards

Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting.”

Southern Cook

Daily Paintings

Galatian 5:22

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Heartbeat at my feet

"My little dog... heartbeat at my feet." ~Edith Wharton

Southern Cook

Watermelon Recipes

Job 37:5

“God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding."

We cherish too, the Poppy redThat grows on fields where valor led,It seems to signal to the skiesThat blood of heroes never dies.

She was inspired to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one and sold poppies to her friends and colleagues with the money going to benefit servicemen and women in need.

God bless the men and women who have ever worn a uniform protecting our freedoms and our nation, and God bless America!

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Charm of the Carolines is participating in a little Linky Love today. Join the fun!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

This past Thursday the Tennessee State Senate voted 22-10 to once again override the governor’s veto of a bill allowing handgun carry permit holders to bring guns into bars and alcohol-serving restaurants.

Tennessee governer Phil Bredesen vetoed the guns bill saying “guns and alcohol don’t mix” after the House had passed the bill on a 66-31 vote, while the Senate approved it by a 23-9 margin.

Bar and restaurant owners still maintain the power to ban all weapons from their establishments.

My Momma, a tea-totaler from way back, celebrates with a few practice shots.

Friday, May 28, 2010

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life celebrates the lives of people who have battled cancer, remembers loved ones lost, and fights back against the disease by raising awareness amd funds for research for a cure. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

Many Relay for Life events are held all over middle Tennessee. The one I’m most fond of is held in my hometown of Franklin at the Rec Center north of town off Hillsboro Road. Besides the Luminaria Ceremony and the Survivors Lap, this year’s Relay will be filled with lots of great entertainment and activities, including the Relay Idol competition. After all, we are in Music City!

Team Berry’s Chapel church of Christ has 24 members and the captain is Fulton Greer. I don’t know about every team member, but one, Channing Workman, has requested a picture of my momma to print onto his t-shirt that he will be wearing the day/evening of the walk.

My Momma has worn many titles in her life... daugher, sister, student, cheerleader, wife, mother, teacher, friend, and for the past seven years she has added to the list Fighter, boldly battling stage 4 ovarian cancer. She is doing remarkably well and feeling well, despite weekly chemo treatments with very few breaks. Her motto is Courage, and every day she wears a silver medallion on a chain around her neck with this word inscribed.

Thank you Fulton Greer, Channing Workman, Ron Gambill, Van Behrendt, James Anderson, Andy Baker, Mac Hughes, Todd Lawson, Mike Norwood, Mike Wright, and the entire BC Team, as well as all the other Relay teams raising awareness and money for research towards a cure.

Thank you, too, to Momma's doctors and staff at Baptist Hospital and to the ladies of her chemo group for their support and encouragement of each other.

Thank you to my sweet Dad who takes Momma to every chemo treatment, blood draw, surgery, scan, and doctor's visit and waits dutifully and patiently by her side (or in the waiting room when required) so she won't be alone.

And thank you Lord for all our blessings, especially the miracle that has given Momma a new title... Survivor.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

When I was much, much younger, I remember the Walker farm off Old Hillsboro Road in Franklin would come alive with activity in the summer. Ted Walker would host in his barn a pickin' and grinnin' party on the night of every full moon. It started as just few friends in 1977, but it grew and grew and came to be known as the Full Moon Parties. Hundreds of guitar pickers and crooners in and around Nashville would show up and imprompu bands would spring up and play bluegrass music well into the night.

The parties became increasingly popular and I assume, unmanageable, because the Walker farm started attracting incredible talent like Chet Atkins and Wynonna Judd, just showing up like everyone else to sing and play and have a good time. The party and celebrities attracted thousands of people and the event required parking and clean up crews. I'm a little uncertain what happened in the nineties, but the event was cancelled. I heard a few months went by where Ted Walker did not host the beloved gathering.

Well, they say necessity is the mother of invention and the Full Moon Parties were not dormant for long. Now hosted by Friends of Warner Parks, what was once a casual friends and "soon to be met" friends gathering is now a fundraiser open to the public.

Musicians and fans are invited to the Steeplechase Barn at the Equestrian Center in Percy Warner Park on every friday in the summer closest to the full moon to play and enjoy bluegrass at its purest. The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children 7-15 and the money raised goes to funding special projects at the park like hayrides for inner city kids and other educational programs. (Pickers get in for only $5, but you have to bring your bluegrass instrument and play... and yes, spoons and washboards do count as instruments.)

Rain or shine, come out tomorrow night! Full Moon Parties are scheduled for May 28, June 25, July 23, August 20, September 24 and October 22.

Blessings to all

God has lovingly and generously showered his sweet blessings all around middle Tennessee. I enjoy so much selecting a chosen few to share with you in these photos, recipes, paintings, inspirations and sometimes, completely random thoughts. Thank you for the visit. Come on back again real soon!

"To see the miraculous within the ordinary is the mark of highest wisdom." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him." ~Abraham Lincoln

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Handbook of Southern Manners

Handbook of Southern MannersIf you are from the South, you probably could have written this book. This link is for everyone else who may be curious.

e.e. cummings

Charm of the Carolines

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

My Precious Furbabies

Lily Belle
Nannie Nutmeg
Max (2008- 4/3/2020)
Love is found in the strangest packages, even disguised as a Cocker Spaniel hobo drifting through the neighborhood. I found Max as a stray on New Year's Day 2016 and have loved and cared for him ever since. Still do. Love you silly boy! Miss you terribly.

Tammy Tabby

Suzie-Q

Suzie-Q is a full-blooded Japanese Chin. She is full of personality and an adorable little snorter with that smooshed nose. While I was out of town another foster kept her and fell in love. Foster Failure! Suzie Q now has a new momma who adores her. Love you sweet pup!
Molly

Molly is a happy girl after spending the day at the Pretty Parlor, AKA Diggin' the Doos in Columbia, TN. She is a Maltese-mix with the sweetest disposition. Molly was adopted today by the sweetest couple who are thrilled to welcome her into their home along with their cat Oblivia. Molly now has her very own momma, daddy, sister-cat and for the first time, her very own bed. Love you sweet girl!
Banner
We located an adopter who couldn't decide between two dogs in a local high-kill shelter, so the rescue decided to pull both of them if I would agree to foster the one not chosen for adoption. Do you have to ask twice? Gladly! Of the Bichon and the Maltipoo, the adopter chose the Bichon. They were both adorable and lovable, but she really didn't have room for two. So I got the Maltipoo. But not for long. Once word got out this beautiful boy was available the adoption applications poured in. The volunteers worked tirelessly to vet the best candidates, and the top three were interviewed by founder of the rescue and by me. Banner's new momma drove several hours from Kentucky to pick up her new baby on Wednesday morning. It was a quick turn-around, and Suzie-Q, my next foster was delivered to my house that afternoon.

Odis

Oh how I love this little boy! Precious Odis is a full-blooded Shih Tzu puppy, about seven months old. I enjoyed fostering him for a few weeks until he was adopted by my dear friend Janet and her family who have given him a loving home and are spoiling him daily.

Mandy

This little girl was found as a stray by a friend in the countryside. She was terrified of cars, so I'm afraid she may have been dumped. She doesn't belong to anyone within miles of where she was found. Luckily a sweet family adopted her and loves her to the moon and back. They describe her as perfect.

Bootsie

Love this sweet, cuddly little beggar. Her family moved away and left her in the neighborhood. She took up residence under my next-door neighbors house and they fed her regularly, but she didn't have vet care or flea treatment. They moved this past weekend, so I contacted Pet Pals of Maury County for assistance. They immediately sent a voucher to a local vet so we could get her checked out, vaccinated, and spayed. I'm happy to report she has been given a clean bill of health and has been adopted.

Little Man Max

This adorable little snuggle pup is a 3lb, 7 year old, altered male Yorkie. He was adopted by a precious, retired couple in Alabama who also adopted a Yorkie from Tennessee River Rescue in Selmer, TN. Along with this fur-sibling, Little Man Max will have a Schnauzer and Schnoodle to play with, along with afternoon golf cart rides around Lake Cullman. I want your life Max!!

Mr. Whiskers

This sweet boy looks like a little, red fox. And he was adopted!!

Honey Noggin'

Honey Noggin' (nee Gypsy) is still available. She is a senior pup with one bottom tooth that protrudes from her underbite so she reminds me of Elvis. Thank ya, Thank ya vury much!

Ebbie

Ebbie is an owner surrendered, 9 year old, female Basset Hound who is pure love in a dog suit and terribly confused. The only life she has ever known was uprooted and she came to live with me. Now a precious, young family has adopted her and they are in love. And their whole neighborhood is in love. That's what happens when there is a Basset about.

Lola and Lonnie

Lonnie and Lola are brother and sister, about 18 months old and simply adorable. They were adopted together. Thank you!!

Charlotte

Yay! My little foster Charlotte found her forever home at the PetSmart Adoption Event with Russell Rescue. She has two young boys to play with and they are already in love.

Brownie Puryear

Brownie found her furever home today! Yay!! Your new Momma has lots of puppy snuggles in her future.

Sadie Elizabeth (nee Bubbles)

This precious baby was my foster and is now my god-puppy. She was adopted by my parents. She was special from the moment my dad laid eyes on her. We are thrilled to welcome her into our family as a member, and not a foster.

Glory B

Looking like the lovechild of Yoda and one of the Grimlins is Glory B (formerly Blackie). She is full of spunk and sass.... all three and a half pounds of her! Glory B was adopted by a sweet, retired couple looking for lap puppy on which to heap all their snuggles and kisses.

Maddie

Maddie was my foster for less than a week. This sweet girl was adopted by my friends Don and Carol who have given her a new fur-sibling as well as a loving home. Don't you just love happy endings?

Junebug

Junebug is a precious, 35lb, young, female, terrier-mix foster adopted in September. Playful, intelligent and loveable. She's now enjoying a family of her own.

Millie Matisse

Millie Matisse, my little foster through Russell Rescue, was adopted by an adorable young lady July 2015. She enjoys a loving home that she shares with her new fur-sibling.

Vienna

Vienna, my little foster through Russell Rescue, was adopted by a sweet family in Murfreesboro, June 2015. She enjoyed love and kisses through her finals days and ventured across the Rainbow Bridge end of August 2015.

Gen. Jubal Lee

A little beggar that came up starved and injured. He's hanging out with me until I can determine if he has a home. If not, he has a minor operation in his future and then will be ready for a loving forever home. Right now he is getting loving care and attention and plenty of kibble.

Ruby

Ruby, a Pet Pals of Maury County foster, now lives with her furever family in Culleoka, TN

Ida Claire
Ida Claire, a Snooty Giggles foster, was my furbaby from 10-31-11 to 7-26-12. She was taken by transport to live with her Fur-ever Family in Massachusetts, 7/26/12. Miss you silly girl!